Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11330775June 25, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. SHICKER FORD LOCATED AT (3300 S. KINGSHIGHWAY, ST. LOUIS, MO 63139, (314) 664-4100) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330793June 25, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS SON WHO OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIS SON THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SENT AN EMAIL TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SPOKE WITH TWO UNKNOWN DEALERS WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND PROVIDED HER WITH THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE MANUFACTURER. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. *LN CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330795June 25, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER LANGDALE KIA (1508 N ASHLEY ST, VALDOSTA, GA 31602; (229) 242-0715) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5-8 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE DRASTICALLY INCREASED, THEN, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,284. *LN*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330799June 25, 2020
ENGINE
CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. PARKED CAR AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATES ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A CAR THAT'S ONLY SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP. LAST 360 POINT INSPECTION WAS NOVEMBER 2019. LAST DEALERSHIP VISIT MAY 2020. RECALL STATES 2-LITER AND 2.4 LITER FOUR CYLINDER ENGINES. KIA STATES ITS FOR GDI NOT MPI. YOUR REPORT DID NOT SPECIFY. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330823June 25, 2020
ENGINE
FIRST, I WAS ON IN A ROAD TRIP TO ARIZONA FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND SMELLED LIKE OIL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED MORE OIL WHEN MY LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I STILL HAD 1000MI LEFT UNTIL MY NEXT OIL CHANGE. SO THEY PERFORMED THE OIL CHANGE AFTER GETTING IT TOWED THERE AND HAVING TO THEN COME BACK FOR IT (4 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT TOWED THERE). AFTER THAT, WE TRIED ONCE AGAIN TO GO TO ARIZONA AND ABOUT HALF WAY THERE GOING ABOUT 73MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR MADE A LOUD BOOM NOISE, SAW LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. HUSBAND'S STEP DAD CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS COMPLETELY GONE. WE WENT TO GRAB MORE OIL AND WHEN WE POURED IT THROUGH, IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM. AFTER HOURS OF TRYING TO GET IT ON THE BACK OF OUR OTHER TRUCK TRAVELING WITH US WE FINALLY GOT IT TO A KIA AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED. LONG STORY SHORT, WE RENTED A BETTER TRUCK FOR $480 TO HAUL MY CAR BACK TO ARIZONA. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND UPSET. MY CAR IS NOW AT A KIA IN TEMPE, AZ AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S NOT APART OF THE ENGINE RECALL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT EVEN THOUGH AN ATTORNEY TOLD ME IT WAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330830June 25, 2020
ENGINE
I LEASED 2018 KIA OPTIMA EX. AT 6399MILES AND 9650MILES ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CAR VIBRATES A LOT. FIRST SERVICE REPLACED SPARK PLUG AND SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS AWARDED AS BEST INITIAL QUALITY AWARD WHICH HAS ENGINE ISSUES. KIA SAYS THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING CAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WILL REPLACE ENGINE OR REPAIR IT. KIA IS NOT CONFIDENT THAT REPLACED ENGINE WILL NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330872June 25, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE SUDDENLY SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SCENE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE OWNER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT FINGER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE HOOD. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY AS IT WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALER ALM KIA SOUTH (4310 JONESBORO RD. UNION CITY, GA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS WELLS THE MANUFACTURER WERE A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM. GASOLINE), HOWEVER, WHEN HE CONTACT THE DEALER HE WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11330907June 25, 2020
STEERING
MY VEHICLE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AND WHILE CAR IS IN PARK. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS WITH KIA'S(STEERING COUPLING) AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. I NEED TO KNOW IF ESTABLISHED AS A RECALL SO I CAN TAKE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING LIKE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330647June 24, 2020
ENGINE
HI ENGINE KEEP LOSING POWER BECAUSE THE EWGA VOLTAGE IS INCORRECT. I'VE HAD THIS ADJUSTED 3 TIMES SO FAR OVER 60,000 MILES BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK. NOW I NEED TO GO IN AND SPEND ANOTHER 200 DOLLAR TO HAVE IT FIXED OFR THE 4TH TIME. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE DESIGN AND IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. HOW TO ADJUST THE EWGA VOLTAGE IS DESCRIBED HERE: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2013/SB-10090612-5448.PDF IT SHOULD BE MADE A MANDATORY AND PERMANENT FIX PAID BY KIA FOR THE LIFE TIME OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330679June 24, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR SPED IS FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER DAY. THE CAR JERKS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING IDLE. THE OIL LIGHT KEEP COMING ON WHEN THE OIL STICK SHOW THAT'S ITS OIL IN THERE. CAR DON'T PICK UP SPEED FAST ENOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330279June 23, 2020
STEERING
THE GEARBOX YOKE PLUG DETACHES WHENEVER YOU DRIVE AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A NOISE. THE NOISE WORSENS AS YOU DRIVE NO MATTER IF YOU'RE TURNING A CORNER BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY TYPE OF ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD CONDITION. YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING EVEN WHEN YOU'RE STATIONARY AND ARE TURNING THE WHEEL. THERE APPARENTLY IS A RECALL ON THIS SAME COMPONENT FOR EARLIER KIA OPTIMA'S YEARS AND BEYOND, BUT NOT ON THE 2013. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330295June 23, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SO ONE OF THE KIA DEALERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE REPLACED THE MOTOR IN OUR 2011 OPTIMA, EVER SINCE THEN OUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN WORKING. I'VE HAD IT TESTED AND RECHARGED. STILL NO ACC. I HAVE DIAGNOSED NO POWER TO THE AC PUMP. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NEW BULBS IN LOW BEAM AND ARE DIM..?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330322June 23, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DORSCHEL KIA (3817 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330335June 23, 2020
ENGINE
CAR STARTS SMOKING AND MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING A DAY BEFORE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. CAR TOWED TO DEALER 6/23/2020- RODS IN ENGINE WENT BAD, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 360 POINT INSPECTION NOVEMBER 2019. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASE. IT IS FRUSTRATING THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY 2020 DID NOT DETECT A PROBLEM AND I AM NOW AT THIS POINT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AND WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE. WHAT'S THE POINT OF USING A DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE YOUR CAR? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330441June 23, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF, THE BATTERY, OIL AND TRANSMISSION ICON APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER INTO THE SIDE LANE SAFELY BECAUSE THE BREAKS ALONG WITH THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AFTER PLACING THE CAR INTO PARK AND REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT. IT STARTED, SO I CONTINUED HEADING HOME. APPROXIMATELY DRIVING ANOTHER 12 MILES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME WAS UPON RESTARTING IT, A WEIRD KNOCKING NOISE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF. I WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO RESTART IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP, SO I CONTINUED HEADING HOME. TODAY, ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SHUT OFF. SAME KNOCKING, AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I RESTARTED IT, ONLY TO CONTINUOUSLY HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND A VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE ACCELERATING, IT BARELY MOVED AND THE NOISES BECAME LOUDER ALONG WITH THE VIBRATION.THIS TIME THE CAR WAS INCAPABLE OF BEING DRIVEN. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED DIRECTLY TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. GOOD THING MY CAR WAS STILL COVERED WITH EASY CARE OR ELSE I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TO GET IT TOWED. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHATEVER NEEDS REPAIRED. I DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE AND WILL ATTACH IT BELOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329986June 22, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 9:40PM AND MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. THEY WERE SET TO AUTO. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THEM TO ON AND THANKFULLY THEY STAYED ON UNTIL WE MADE IT HOME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR. WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330054June 22, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE COOLANT AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE EXTINGUISHED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ALSO NOTICED OIL LEAKING IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GUNTHER KIA (1900 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317 (954) 800-2125) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330116June 22, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330210June 22, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WAS TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH ON DRY STREET IN THE FAR LEFT LANE (FAST LANE), MY CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE METAL CLICKING AND THEN CAR STARTED SMOKING. MY HUSBAND GETS OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND THE SMOKE GOES FROM GRAY TO BLACK AND WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD UP FLAMES COMING FROM REAR AND PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE! LUCKILY SOMEONE PULLED OVER AND HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE BOTH ARRIVED ON SCENE AND REPORTS MADE. VEHICLE TOWED HOME; WAITING TO TOW TO DEALER TO FIND OUT CAUSE OF FIRE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THE VEHICLE AND NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS JUST FIRE. KIA KNOWS THERE IS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND CHOOSE TO ONLY RECALL CERTAIN YEARS WHEN THEY BASICALLY KNOW ANY VEHICLE BETWEEN 2011 AND 2018 CAN BE AFFECTED. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE BUT VERY UPSET THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND KIA STATES SINCE IT'S OVER 100,000 MILES THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329886June 21, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS PURCHASED IN 2014 WITH LOW HEADLIGHT BEAMS OUTPUT, HAS SINCE DETORIATED TO ALMOST NON EXISTENT. HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO IMPROVE LIGHT QUALITY AND HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IN ANY WAY. HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOREVER AS I HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE ONCE ALREADY BUT I'M AT A LOSS, U SIMPLY CAN NOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT! SO UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A VERY BIG AND COMMON PROBLEM FOR KIA OWNERS. CLEARLY IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO SERVICING OR RECALLS OFFERED TO CORRECT THIS FOR US DRIVERS. WITH THE SUGGESTED RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM BEING A NEW HOUSING/ASSEMBLY AT $1,000 OR MORE THAT IS COMPLETELY NOT A FEASIBLE RESOLUTION TO BE ACHIEVED FINANCIALLY BY WAY OF THE AVERAGE DRIVER AS THOSE REPAIRS ARE WAY TO COSTLY, KIA SHOULD HAVE ALREADY JUMPED IN AND OFFERED SOME SAFETY RECALLS! ALSO WORTH NOTING, I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS MANY TIMES JUST DO TO THEM BURNING OUT, NOT SURE IF THAT IS BECAUSE OF WHATEVER UNDERLYING PROBLEM THERE IS FOR THESE LIGHTS INITIALLY OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTS, ETC. PLEASE PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SOON!! MY REGARDS, *COMPLAINT FORM ASKS IS THERE WAS A CRASH WITH ONLY YES OR NO OPTIONS TO ANSWER AS. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADDED FIELD WITH "THERE IS GOING TO BE"!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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